HISTORY

The congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I.) was started by three illustrious priests of the Apostolic Church of St. Thomas Christians in India. These Founders were Rev. FathersThomas Palackal, Thomas Porukara and Kuriakose Elias Chavara.They were assisted by Jacob Kanianthara who joinedthe Congregation as a brother co-operator.

The Italian Carmelite Bishop Maurilius Stabilini O.C.D.,who was governing the St. Thomas Christians of Kerala at that time, gave permission to start this religious Congregation. The foundation stone for the first monastery at Mannanam was laid on 11th May 1831.

CANONICAL ERECTION

On 8 December 1855 the Religious Community at Mannanam became a canonically recognised Religious Congregation with the religious profession of the first batch of eleven priests headed by Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara. On this occasion the name assumed by the Religious Community at Mannanam was “Congregation of the Servants of Mary Immaculate of Mount Carmel.

Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the first Prior of the Congregation passed away with the odour of sanctity on 3 January1871. He was declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II on 8th February 1986.

Since the Latin missionaries of the Order of Carmelites Discalced (O. C. D.) were guiding the Congregation started at Mannanam during its early period,Carmelite influence was there from the very outset.In 1860 the General Chapter of O.C.D. in Rome affiliatedthis new Religious Congregation of the Oriental Rite to itself and gave it the designation T.O.C.D. (Third Order of Carmelites Discalced). It was granted Pontifical status in 1885.The name of the Congregation was changed to C.M.I. (Carmelitesof Mary Immaculate) with the approval of its revised Constitution by the Holy See in 1958.C.M.I. was given Pontifical Exemption in 1967.

ACTIVITIES

This Congregation was involved from its beginning,in such activities as the Church in Kerala was in need of at particular times. It started with preaching retreats and conducting seminaries for training priests. The members met the challenge of educating the youth and disseminating Christian literature,laboured for the conversion of non-Christians and for the reunion of the separated brethren among St. Thomas Christians and undertook works of mercy and started charitable institutions.

The Mission work of the C.M.I. Congregation gathered new dimension and momentum as mission territories were entrusted to it beyond the boundaries of Kerala from 1962 onwards to expand the Syro-Malabar Church.

DIVISION INTO PROVINCES

The C.M.I. Congregation, which had been under the direct administration of the Prior General, was divided into three Provinces on 2 March 1953 for administrative efficiency. Later on, as members and activities increased,further divisions became necessary. At presentthe Congregation has thirteen Provinces, and a Mission Region.

BIFURCATION OF ST.JOSEPH'S PROVINCE

The Province covering the vast southern area of Kerala was calledSt. Joseph's Province. As activities of the Province became too numerousand the administration too unwieldy,it was bifurcated in 3rd March 1979 and both the units were named after St. Joseph. One of these units has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram and the other has it at Kottayam.

ST. JOSEPH PROVINCE THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

The territory of this Province is almost co-extensive with the territory of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry and that of the Diocese of Thuckalai except some portions of the foranes of Athirampuzha,Nedumkunnam and Manimala.It comprises of the revenue district of Kanyakumari in Tamilnadu and the revenue districts of Thiruvananthapuram,Quilon and major portions of the revenue districts of Pathanamthitta,Alleppey & Kottayam in Kerala.

At present the area covering the revenue district of Kanyakumari,co-extensive with the Diocese of Thuckalai, is a dependent Sub-Region of the Province. The boundaries of the two Provinces bearing the name of St. Joseph coincide in the municipal town of Kottayam.